Tuesday, January 5, 2010

I. P. Man

A good friend of mine just had one of his songs allegedly stolen by some international artistes. I will not rest until I get to the bottom of this.

Well, actually, I will rest soon. I need some sleep.

Framkly, I have had enough. Creative people in this country are treated like shit. Since I'm the most creative motherfucker ever, that goes double for me.

Years ago, in my dying days as a reporter, I was approached by some actors, wanting to do a guild of sorts. A professional union like in other countries.

They were really gung ho about it, because the rights of creative people were being trampled on.

As the greatest journalist ever, I did what any greatest journalist ever would do. I stood by and waited for them to do something. I cannot interfere. I was Uatu, the Watcher. I can't delve in the matters of mortals, or the Celestials would come and kick my ass. They never did do anything.

Fast forward a few years later, I heard some dudes who wanted the guild are now fishing. I mean, literally. Fishing.

They got no work. Cause people thought of them as trouble-makers. Jimmy Hoffa wannabes.

I also was a freelance scriptwriter, and perhaps still am. I tried to start a screenwriters' guild.

A few things stood in my way.

1. Writers are not aggressive.

They're meek and mild and polite. Especially in Malaysia. They are mostly willing to settle for scraps and abuse from anyone. Some of us get paid, poorly, if at all. SOme, are just used and abused.